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Post subject: '59 Precision Recovered After 42 Years
Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2015 9:07 am
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I started playing sax in a rock band in 1963 with a band called The Concepts in Syracuse, N.Y. After two years with that band I was let go due to the British Invasion and the band's perception that a sax was no longer part of current rock music. I decided to try guitar and started taking lessons using a Harmony Classical hollow body purchased with S&H Green Stamps. I soon felt that it might take me too long to attain the experience required to paly lead or rhythm guitar and purchased a Klira bass. I found that the bass was what I wanted to play and started taking lessons. Getting together with a friend who was already an accomplished guitarist, we started jamming after school and eventually formed a band.
The Klira bass worked very well, but was continually looked down upon by other band members as a beginner's instrument. Given that Vox had just come out with a new double "F" hole hollow body bass, I decided to buy one. After three weeks using the Vox, I was very disappointed in the tone. I returned to Bonne Music and told them I wanted to trade the Vox for something that actually sounded like a bass.
My instructor (David Pasternak worked for Bonne Music) showed me a used '59 Fender Precision he said he could trade even for the Vox. I took the Precision and continued using it until I went into the U.S. Navy in 1968.
After the service and being married for four years with one kid and one on the way, I worked as a machinist.
In 1973, while at work as a machinist for Rockwell International, my first wife decided she needed some spending money after seeing an ad for a guitar collector in a local Scotsman Press flyer. As she really didn't want me to play in any more bands, she called the collector and offered him my '59 Precision Bass. He came over to look at it and offered her $450 for it and bought it from her. He was unaware that I had not given her permission to sell it.
At the time, I thought that was the last I'd ever see of my beloved '59.
Forward to 2015 and after two divorces, five kids, another war and health related retirement, living in a senior citizens apartment complex, I had the good fortune to meet up with the collector who bought the '59 from my first wife when he moved into the same apartment complex.
After a very long conversation with him discussing the circumstances of that transaction, he asked if I would be interested in buying the '59 back from him. I said that I would love to, but I doubted I could afford to. As he stated that he needed cash, he would sell it for the same price he paid for it ($450).
I bought it back, replaced some parts that were damaged on it and now I'm enjoying the love of this bass again after 42 years.
Thanks, Fender, and fate for bringing us back together.


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Post subject: Re: '59 Precision Recovered After 42 Years
Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2015 10:19 am
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Great Story! :)

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Post subject: Re: '59 Precision Recovered After 42 Years
Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2015 10:26 am
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Very good. I can't imagine either of my two wives doing that. In fact, wife #2 bought me a Ric 366/12 for my birthday one year.

I'm glad your story has a happy ending, especially since it's such a desirable instrument!


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Post subject: Re: '59 Precision Recovered After 42 Years
Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2015 11:22 am
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That is a great story! That's pretty cool that you were able to get that bass back, especially as expensive as those instruments are these days. 8)

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Post subject: Re: '59 Precision Recovered After 42 Years
Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2015 6:41 am
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What a nice story, & a nice ending as well 8) .

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Post subject: Re: '59 Precision Recovered After 42 Years
Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2015 8:12 pm
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Outstanding! I needed a feel good story today, and that sure fit the bill. Congrats!

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Post subject: Re: '59 Precision Recovered After 42 Years
Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 6:42 pm
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Wow! Stories don't get any better than that one. It was meant to be.
:) 8)


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Post subject: Re: '59 Precision Recovered After 42 Years
Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 7:54 pm
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63p-bass wrote:
Wow! Stories don't get any better than that one. It was meant to be.
:) 8)


+1

Positive karma at its finest.

Rawk on!

8)

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: '59 Precision Recovered After 42 Years
Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 8:14 pm
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Very cool!

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Post subject: Re: '59 Precision Recovered After 42 Years
Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2015 7:34 am
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You should check with the Pope and see if you can have this certified as a Miracle. I guess now it is YOUR turn to do a good deed for someone. Maybe he was feeling guilty and now his conscience is clearer, but it is nothing short of a miracle.


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Post subject: Re: '59 Precision Recovered After 42 Years
Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 7:20 am
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brashfelky wrote:
.... Forward to 2015 and after two divorces ....
I assume the first of the two was a direct response to the sale of the '59 without your knowledge or consent.

Glad you got your baby back safe and sound.

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Post subject: Re: '59 Precision Recovered After 42 Years
Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 11:53 am
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That's a great story! You should buy a lottery ticket :?

Jerry

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Post subject: Re: '59 Precision Recovered After 42 Years
Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 12:22 pm
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jmallard wrote:
That's a great story! You should buy a lottery ticket :?

Jerry


+1

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Post subject: Re: '59 Precision Recovered After 42 Years
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 2:59 pm
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That has to be the best bass story I've heard in a long time!


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Post subject: Re: '59 Precision Recovered After 42 Years
Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2016 7:56 am
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That's a fantastic story. Please post a picture of the bass if you can.
I have never heard of a collector selling back a bass for what he paid for it.

You must have really connected with that guy.
I have a '59 Precision bass and that story really hits home.


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